Charlot was deeply concerned about the ten or so knights by Jonan's side joining the battle. The defensive power of the Origin Blood Boundary was simply too strong.

  After all, even alchemical explosives couldn’t break through the Radiant Magic Array. While the Origin Blood Boundary might be slightly weaker than the Radiant Magic Array, it was still impervious to anti-magic armor-piercing rounds.

  However, during the second siege by the South Seraph restorationists, Charlot still didn’t see those ten vampire Transcendents appear on the battlefield.

  He couldn’t fathom Jonan’s reasoning in letting these restorationists throw their lives away. Were these people not his "kin"? If Jonan simply moved out of the range of anti-space long-range rifles, he wouldn’t need their protection anymore. Even if there was some risk to him on the battlefield, shouldn’t a commander be willing to make at least a small sacrifice?

  If ordinary people were sacrificing themselves, shouldn’t the commander also bear a bit of risk?

  Charlot had always thought he somewhat understood the nobles of the Old Continent. But now, he realized his understanding was far from sufficient.

  Even during the second wave of the siege, the few Transcendents who had retreated earlier never reappeared.

  Charlot led the West Wind Knight Order and the Silver Dove Castle militiamen in a bitter struggle. Although they lost another 200 people, they managed to repel the South Seraph forces once again, leaving seven or eight hundred dead restorationists lying beneath Silver Dove Castle's walls.

  After two rounds of intense battle, the sky had darkened. Even so, the South Seraph restorationists still hadn’t set up camp. Charlot had a sinking feeling—was Jonan mad? If the fighting continued like this, it was as if he didn’t regard his soldiers as human. With such intense combat, how could these ordinary soldiers sustain a third wave?

  Even though Charlot cked much military experience, he could tell it was impossible to continue this way. He divided the West Wind Knight Order into two groups, allowing half to rest. He also divided the Silver Dove Castle militiamen into three parts: one to defend the city, one to rest, and one to transport supplies and recruit reinforcements from the city.

  As Charlot made arrangements for his troops to rest and replenished them with food from the city, he kept a close watch on the movements of the South Seraph restorationists.

  Night deepened. Charlot had just ordered torches to be prepared when he saw the South Seraph restorationists mobilize once again. As their forces surged forward like a tide, Charlot was stunned to see the ten or so knights by Jonan’s side also moving into action, accompanied by the Transcendents who had retreated during the first wave.

  This time, the South Seraph restorationists were throwing everything they had into the fight, holding nothing back.

  Charlot suddenly forgot about his earlier compints about Jonan…

  So this old man was even more "Old Flor" than he had imagined.

  Dolores, Frederica, Yellow Bear, and Dubin all wore grim expressions. They understood the gravity of the situation.

  Dolores murmured, “We can’t hold it…”

  She wanted to urge Charlot to withdraw from Silver Dove Castle.

  Frederica, on the other hand, was more straightforward in her thoughts: “Whether Silver Dove Castle falls or not has nothing to do with me, a member of the Orc Assassin Alliance. I’m not going to risk my life for it.”

  “Sorry! I’m pulling out of the fight.”

  Dubin gnced at his Swiftstep horse several times before whispering to Charlot, “Captain, you should wear the Swiftstep Horse.”

  Yellow Bear remained expressionless. As a demon hunter, his tough skin was an advantage, but fleeing was not his strong suit. He had little hope left, menting his decision to follow Charlot. He had wanted to secure a future for his children and wife, but now that future seemed lost, and he was about to lose his life as well.

  They all understood that Charlot’s reliance on anti-magic armor-piercing rounds was useless against the Origin Blood Boundary. Without a way to counter the ten knights by Jonan’s side, let alone the Transcendents with them, this siege was unbeatable.

  The ordinary members of the West Wind Knight Order and the Silver Dove Castle militiamen were still unaware of this. They forced themselves to muster courage, ready to repel the third wave of the siege. Many didn’t realize this attack couldn’t be repelled.

  Charlot said nothing, but a wild idea swirled in his mind.

  He watched as Jonan’s knights charged into the center of the battlefield. Clenching his fists, then opening his hands, he instinctively reached for a cigarette, only to remember that he was in the Fars Empire, not Earth—there were no cigarettes here.

  At such a critical moment, a bizarre thought flitted through Charlot’s mind: "Should I start selling cigarettes in Fars? That’s a hugely profitable business. Even in the superpower to the east, it’s a major industry that can sustain military expenses.”

  “Forget it! Now’s not the time for this.”

  “What was I thinking just now?”

  “That idea was insane.”

  “Damn it, I’m just a civil servant. I shouldn’t even be on the battlefield. Why am I having such crazy ideas?”

  “I have Swiftstep Technique, and Spider Technique might just work…”

  “Bah, stop it. I should be thinking about how my Swiftstep Technique and Spider Technique will help me escape unscathed.”

  “If those knights using the Origin Blood Boundary join forces, they’re invincible on this battlefield.”

  “Even with three Transcendent firearms and anti-magic armor-piercing rounds, they’re unstoppable…”

  “But…”

  “Why am I having such insane thoughts again?”

  Dubin, noticing Charlot’s silence, patted him on the shoulder. Startled, Charlot instinctively grabbed Dubin and smmed him to the ground. Realizing it was Dubin, he quickly apologized, “Sorry, reflexes. I didn’t realize it was you.”

  Dubin awkwardly stood up and repeated his earlier question: “Do you want to wear the Swiftstep Horse?”

  Charlot shook his head. “I don’t need it.”

  He gnced at the West Wind Knight Order warriors preparing for battle and the Silver Dove Castle militiamen ready to y down their lives to protect their home. A sudden surge of blood rushed to his head, and he decred, “Dolores, Frederica, Yellow Bear, Dubin, hold Silver Dove Castle for me.”

  They were stunned, not understanding what Charlot intended to do.

  Dolores snapped, “What are you pnning? Don’t think I don’t know—you want to make off with Baron Feller’s wealth!”

  Frederica shook her head. “I’m leaving the battlefield. Thank you for taking me in along the way, but I won’t risk my life for Silver Dove Castle.”

  Yellow Bear, in his deep voice, said, “Captain, can you take care of my family if possible? I’d like my eldest son to join the city patrol guards. I don’t want him ending up in a gang like me. Tell him… I won’t make it to his fifteenth birthday.”

  Dubin said nothing, simply tapping his chest and saying, “I’ve got this.”

  Then they saw Charlot draw Blood Rose, leap from the walls of Silver Dove Castle, and charge into the battlefield.